WAND Statement on the US Certification of Iranian Compliance with the Nuclear Agreement

WAND Statement on the US Certification of Iranian compliance with the Nuclear Agreement

Yesterday, the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson certified to Congress that Iran continues to comply with its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark 2015 agreement that prevented Iran from building nuclear weapons in exchange for international sanctions relief. Sec. Tillerson wrote in the certification letter to Congress that the Trump administration would review the JCPOA to determine if US implementation is still in the national interest.

Megan Amundson, the Executive Director of Women’s Action for New Directions issued the following statement in response:

"The Trump administration’s certification of Iranian compliance with the JCPOA is good news, especially for those of us wondering if diplomacy is still considered an important tool for this president. Since the negotiations began in 2013, the Iran nuclear deal has demonstrated that engagement with our adversaries can result in peaceful solutions to stubborn international conflicts. Still, the continued success of the Iran Deal will hinge on all sides acting in good faith to implement their commitments under the agreement. To that end, the Trump administration should extend the nuclear-related sanctions relief waivers at the appropriate time, expected within the next month. In addition, Congress should hold off from enacting legislation that would impose broad new sanctions that could violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the agreement. We urge the administration to continue the agreement’s implementation. It’s hard to see how a compelling case could be made that the United States’ unilateral withdrawal would be more in our national security interest than its continued commitment to it."